Srimad Bhagavad Gita The Holy Song of God Arranged for singing by Swami Nirmalananda Giri Copyright 2004 Atma Jyoti Ashram Chapter One The Yoga of the Despondency of Arjuna Dhritarashtra said: Assembled there on dharma’s field– Kurukshetra–desiring war, What did my sons and the Pandus? Do tell me now, O Sanjaya. 1 Sanjaya said: There then the King Duryodhana, Seeing the Pandav forces ranged– Ready for battle–did approach His teacher, Drona, and did say: 2 “Behold, O Teacher! here arrayed This great army of Pandu’s sons, Assembled by Drupada’s son1 Who is thine own gifted pupil. 3 “Here are heroes, mighty archers, Bhima and Arjuna’s equals, The great warriors Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada, too. 4 “Drishtaketu, Chekitana, And the valiant king of Kashi, Purujit and Kuntibhoja, And Shaibya–all the best of men. 5 “And courageous Yudhamanyu, And valorous Uttamaujas– Shubhadra’s and Draupadi’s sons– All who are mighty car warriors.2 6 1 Arjuna 2 A great-car-warrior (maharatha) was a commander of eleven thousand bowmen as he rode in his chariot. 3 “Hear, too, O best of the twice-born, Those distinguished among ourselves. The leaders of my army here: These now I recount unto you. 7 “Yourself and Bhishma and Karna And Kripa, victorious in war; Ashwattama, Vikarna, and Somadatta’s son: all are mine. 8 “Also many other heroes, Who now risk their lives for my sake, Discharging various weapons, All very skilled in waging war. 9 “Impossible to count is this Army defended by Bhishma, But that army led by Bhima Is very easy to number. 10 “Stationed in your proper places, Whatever be your positions, Do you now all give your support And protection unto Bhishma.” 11 That powerful, oldest Kuru, Bhishma, the grandsire, blew his conch And sounded loud a lion-roar That he might cheer Duryodhana. 12 Following Bhishma, suddenly Conches, kettledrums, cymbals, drums And trumpets were sounded aloud, So the uproar was tremendous. 13 4 Then Madhava3 and Pandava,4 In the great chariot standing That was yoked with the white horses, Sounded forth their divine conches. 14 Sri Krishna blew Panchajanya, Arjuna blew Devadatta, And Bhima of ferocious deeds, Blew upon his great conch, Paundra. 15 King Yudhishthira, Kunti’s son, Blew on Anantavijaya, Nakula and Sahadeva: Sughosha, Manipushpaka. 16 The supreme bowman, Kashi’s king, And the great warrior Shikhandi, Dhristadyumna and Virata, And invincible Satyaki. 17 O Lord of Earth! then Drupada, All the sons of Draupadi, and Subhadra’s son, the mighty-armed, Each one blew upon his own conch. 18 Then throughout heaven and the earth Resounded the terrific noise Which rent asunder all the hearts Of those in Dhritarashtra’s ranks. 19 Then seeing Dhritarashtra’s ranks Standing marshalled, about to fight, The monkey-ensigned5 Pandava, Was impelled to take up his bow 20 3 Krishna 4 Arjuna 5 Arjuna’s standard was a flag with Hanuman, the monkey-devotee of Rama, depicted on it. 5 And speak unto Hrishikesha,6 O Lord of earth, these fateful words: Arjuna said: Achutya,7 place my chariot In the midst between the armies 21 So from that place I may observe Those who are here prepared for war– Desiring to begin battle– And know with whom I have to fight. 22 For I desire to observe those Who are assembled here for fight, Wishing to please Duryodhana By taking his side in this war. 23 Sanjaya said: Commanded thus by Arjuna, O Bharata, then Krishna drove That grandest of all chariots Between the two hosts, and there stopped. 24 Thus facing Bhishma, Drona, and The rulers of the whole vast earth, “Behold, O Partha,”8 then He said, “All the Kurus assembled here!” 25 Then Pritha saw assembled there Fathers, grandfathers, teachers, sons, Maternal uncles, brothers, and Grandsons as well as friends of his. 26 The son of Kunti, seeing there In both the armies relatives, Fathers-in-law, and companions, Stood and contemplated them all. 27 6 Bushy-haired One–Krishna 7 Imperishable One–Krishna 8 The Son of Pritha–Arjuna 6 Then filled with infinite pity, And filled with despondence, he spoke: Arjuna said: Krishna, I see my own kinfolk Desiring to fight approaching. 28 Through sorrow my limbs now fail me, My mouth is parched with grief and woe. My body now is shivering, My hair is standing up on end. 29 My bow is slipping from my hand, My skin is burning as with fire. Nor can I even stand upright, My mind is reeling and confused. 30 Inauspicious omens I mark, And not good fortune do I see, O Keshava,9 if I destroy My own kinsmen in this battle. 31 Nor do I desire victory– No, not kingship nor yet pleasures– Kingship, enjoyments surely mean Nothing to us, O Govinda.10 32 Those for whose sake we should desire Kingship, enjoyments, and pleasures, Array before us in battle, Abandoning life and riches. 33 Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, Maternal uncles, and grandsons, Fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law, And many other kinsmen, too. 34 9 Beautiful-haired one–Krishna. 10 Cowherd–Krishna 7 Even if they wish to kill me, I never could wish to kill them– Not even to rule the three worlds, So how much less for rule of earth? 35 Indeed, what pleasure could be ours, From killing Dhritarashtra’s sons? Sin only could take hold of us If we should slay these aggressors. 36 We are not justified to kill Our kinsmen–Dhritarashtra’s sons– How, having killed our own people, Could we be happy, Madhava? 37 Their thoughts overpowered by greed, They see no wrong in destruction Of family or even in Wreaking treachery upon friends. 38 Yet why should we, Janardana,11 Who clearly see the evil caused By such destruction of our kin, Not turn away from this fell sin? 39 On destruction of families, Their rites of dharma then die out, From the destruction of dharma, Adharma overwhelms them all. 40 Overpowered by adharma The family’s women then are Corrupted, and from corruption The confusion of castes arise. 41 From caste confusion families And their destroyers fall to hell; Ancestors also fall without Offerings of rice and water. 42 11 Agitator of Men (an epithet of Vishnu)–Krishna 8 The family’s destroyers’ wrongs Produce the confusion of caste, Then observance of caste duties And family laws are destroyed. 43 Have we not heard, repeatedly, That indefinite time in hell Accrues to those whose fam’ly laws Have been wiped out, Janardana? 44 Ah! Alas! we are now resolved To do great evil with our greed For royal pleasures for whose sake We intend to kill our own kin. 45 If the sons of Dhritarashtra With weapons armed should now slay me Though unarmed, yet that still would be A greater happiness for me. 46 Sanjaya said: In the midst of the battlefield Thus speaking, Arjun’ cast away His bow and arrows and sank down, His mind overcome with sorrow. 47 Om Tat Sat Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, the science of the Eternal, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the first discourse entitled: The Yoga of the Despondency of Arjuna. 9 Chapter Two Sankhya Yoga Sanjaya said: To him who was thus overcome By pity, and whose eyes were filled With tears, downcast and despairing, Madhusudana12 spoke these words: 1 The Holy Lord said: Whence has come this faintheartedness Of yours in the time of danger Ignoble, not leading to heav’n, But to disgrace, O Arjuna? 2 At no time should you entertain Such cowardice–unsuitable. Abandon this faintheartedness And stand up, O Scorcher of Foes! 3 Arjuna said: But how can I in battle fight With arrows, Madhusudana, Against Bhishma and Drona, too, Who are worthy of reverence? 4 Better that I eat the food of beggary Instead of my slaying these great-souled gurus. If I kill them my enjoyments in this world Of wealth and desires will all be stained with blood.5 Indeed, I cannot tell which will be better, That we should conquer them or they conquer us. The sons of Dhritarashtra stand facing us– After whose slaying we would not wish to live. 6 12 Destroyer of the Demon Madhu (properly an epithet of Vishnu)–Krishna 10 Weakness and pity overcome my being, With mind in confusion I supplicate You, O say decidedly what is my duty. I am Your disciple, do You direct me. 7 I see nothing that can remove this sorrow That dries up my senses, though I should attain The unrivalled and prosperous dominion Over the earth, and mast’ry over the gods. 8 Sanjaya said: Having said this to Govinda, Arjuna, scorcher of his foes, Then further said “I shall not fight,” And fell into a silence deep. 9 To him who thus was despondent In the midst of the two armies, O Bharata, as though smiling Hrishikesha then spoke these words: 10 The Holy Lord said: You have been mourning for those who Should not be mourned for, though you speak Words of wisdom–for the wise grieve Not for the living or the dead. 11 Truly there never was a time When I was not, nor you, nor these Lords of men–nor in the future A time when we shall cease to be. 12 As to the embodied childhood, Youth and old age arise in turn, So he gets another body– The wise are not confused by this. 13 11 Truly material contacts Produce cold, heat, pleasure, and pain.